USA > California > Los Angeles County > History of Los Angeles county, Volume II > Part 35
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JAMES C. KAYS was an honored native son of California and a repre- sentative of one of the sterling pioneer families of this commonwealth, as is evident when it is stated that his birth occurred at Santa Barbara, California, in the year 1850. He became a citizen of prominence and influence in Los Angeles, did much to advance the civic and material upbuilding of this beautiful metropolis, and was called to various offices of public trust, includ- ing those of sheriff of Los Angeles County and treasurer of the City of Los Angeles. He was one of the representative pioneer citizens of Los Angeles at the time of his death, which occurred in the year 1917.
Mr. Kays was reared under the conditions and influences that marked the pioneer days at Santa Barbara, and he received the advantages of the Christian Brothers Colleges at Santa Barbara and Santa Inez. In 1874 he established his residence in Los Angeles, where for more than a third of a century he was a prominent figure in connection with business and civic affairs. Upon coming to the future metropolis Mr. Kays entered the employ of the hardware firm of Harper & Long, which is to-day represented by its lineal successor, the Harper-Reynolds Company. He immediately became interested in local politics, and after holding deputyships in county offices he was, in 1879, elected city treasurer, as candidate on the democratic ticket. He was twice re-elected to this office, and after his retirement there- from he gave equally effective service as United States revenue-stamp agent and as sheriff of Los Angeles County. His character was the positive expression of a strong, loyal and noble nature, and he ever commanded the unqualified confidence and esteem of all who knew him. Mr. Kays was one of the original members of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, served as a director of the same and as a member of many of its important
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committees. His civic loyalty was of the highest type and found many mediums of helpful expression. He assisted in the organization of the Associated Charities of Los Angeles, and served for years as vice president of the organization. His religious faith was that of the Catholic Church, and he was actively affiliated with the Knights of Columbus. Mr. Kays was a charter member of the Newman Club, in the work of which he took specially deep interest, and he was treasurer of the Tidings Publishing Company.
In 1898 Mr. Kays was appointed arbitrator for the City of Los Angeles in determining the valuation of the plant of the Los Angeles Waterworks Company, which was taken over by the city and formed the nucleus around which was evolved the present fine metropolitan water system. As receiver and manager of the Los Angeles Waterworks Company from 1889 to 1892 Mr. Kays had gained authoritative knowledge of all matters pertaining to the local water-supply situation, and this enabled him later to render most valuable service to the city in connection with the development of its present splendid water system.
Mr. Kays was the organizer of the Dollar Savings Bank & Trust Company of Los Angeles, in 1902, and served as its president from its incorporation until 1907, when it was merged with the Park Bank. He organized also the First National Bank of Hollywood and the First National Bank of Glendale, of each of which he became a director.
Mr. Kays ordered his life upon a high plane of integrity and honor and made it count for good in all of its relations, so that it is well that in this history be entered a tribute to his memory and an appreciative estimate of his achievement.
In the year 1883 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Kays and Miss Alice Benedict, who was born at Booneville, Missouri, and who was but six months old when she accompanied her parents on the voyage around Cape Horn to California. The family later returned to Booneville, Missouri, where her mother likewise was born, a member of one of the sterling pioneer families of that locality. After her marriage Mrs. Kays became, like her husband, a communicant of the Catholic Church. She was one of the loved members of the Catholic Woman's Club of Los Angeles, served as an officer of the Queen's Daughters, was prominently identified with the work of the Queen's Daughters, was prominently identified with the work of the Los Angeles Orphan Asylum, the auxiliary of the Home of the Good Shepherd, and the Associated Charities, the while she found many private mediums for the expression of her gracious charities and benevolences. She was devoted to her home, her husband and her children, and in the gracious precincts of that home her beautiful character showed its most transcendant qualities. For many years the family residence has been maintained at 741 South New Hampshire Street; there the death of this gentle and beloved woman occurred on the 1st of February, 1922. Her daughters Misses Cecelia and Florence reside in Los Angeles, The only son, James Walter Kays, is a prominent citizen of Los Angeles, where he is serving, in 1922, as city fire commissioner. The eldest of the three daughters is Mrs. J. D. Bernard, of 625 South Grammercy Place, Los Angeles.
Miss Cecelia Kays is deeply interested in charitable and phil- anthropic work in her native city, and has organized and established at Guerneville, Sonoma County, a summer camp for girls, this being known as Big Tree Camp.
IDAH MCGLONE GIBSON. Perhaps no other one of that assembly of brilliant women who within the past few years have made Southern California an acknowledged center of cultural and social life is more widely known than Idah McGlone Gibson of Los Angeles County, traveler, novelist, political speaker and newspaper writer. Mrs. Gibson owns a beautiful home at Hollywood, and here are prepared the timely editorials appearing in the Los Angeles Evening Express, under the
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caption The Woman's Point of View. With an unusually eventful experience of twenty-five years of newspaper work to draw upon, and wielding a graceful and graphic pen, she has a wide and eager audience for everything she writes.
Idah McGlone Gibson was born in Michigan, a member of one of its oldest pioneer families, the township of Watrousville perpetuating the name of her maternal grandfather, who at one time practically included it in his farm. She attended the public schools at Flint and later, after marriage, when sixteen years old, to Henry H. Gibson, author and newspaper writer, continued her education under private tutors. Her literary talent manifested itself early, and she was yet young when she secured her first hearing on the Toledo Blade, making so favorable an impression as a feature writer that she continued with that journal for five years, becoming its dramatic critic. In this position her versatile talents were further brought to light and led her into still another field of enterprise which culminated in her taking over for one season the management of the noted actor, William Collier, on Broadway, Mrs. Gibson being the first or her sex to manage a high class theatrical star.
As a feature writer Mrs. Gibson's work has been voluminous, appearing in practically all the leading newspapers. The New York World, the New York Herald, the New York Globe, the Philadelphia Press, the Chicago Tribune and others. For a number of years she has been identified with the largest newspaper syndicates in this country. She has also been a contributor to most of the standard magazines, leading a busy but happy literary life. Her exceedingly popular novel, "Confessions of a Wife," which ran as a daily newspaper serial for seven years contains over 600,000 words.
When the World war came on Mrs. Gibson's high standing as a newspaper woman immediately projected her into work of the greatest importance, and she was sent to Europe as special publicity woman for the National War Council of the Red Cross, and among her most treasured documents pertaining thereto, is a letter from the National Red Cross proclaiming her faithfulness and efficiency and asserting that she wrote more war stories and made more Red Cross addresses than any other individual the organization sent abroad. There are many of her countrymen who read with interest her illuminating newspaper articles concerning the notable gathering of famous states- men at Paris on the occasion of the Peace Conference and the signing of the Peace Treaty, at which function she was one of the very few women present. Of pleasing personality and agreeable manner. Mrs. Gibson both at home and abroad succeeded in securing many unexpected interviews, despite refusals bitterly complained of by many other newspaper correspondents. Our own General Pershing gave Mrs. Gibson his first published interview. On the night before Germany signified her intention of signing the Treaty of Peace at Versailles she was received by Queen Sophia of Greece and sister of the deposed Kaiser and accorded an interview. On other occasions she inter- viewed seven of the ruling powers of Europe.
Mrs. Gibson remained in Europe for some time after peace was signed not only because of her work, but because her son was there, for five months being a student in the Sarbonne Paris, after the Armistice. Kenneth Gibson enlisted in the Eighteenth Field Artillery, Third Division, six days after the United States declared war, and was with them in every major offensive of the American Army. He was gassed at Chateau Thierry. He returned to the United States with his widowed mother, and it was then that she purchased the beautiful home, Trail's End, at Hollywood, so that she might be near her only son in his chosen profession of moving pictures.
In political sentiment Mrs. Gibson is a democrat, and her services in behalf of the League of Nations were more than welcome in the
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political campaign that followed her return to America. She was associated with the democratic candidate for the presidency, Governor Cox. of Ohio, and made 120 speeches between August 17, 1919, and October 1 of the same year. She is a valued member of many well known business and social organizations, including the Woman's Press Club of Illinois, the Woman's City Club of New York City, The Gamut Club of New York, an honorary member of the Woman's Educational Club of Toledo, Ohio, and a charter member of the Woman's Athletic Club of Los Angeles. As a writer Mrs. Gibson's work is marked with a sincere human quality which makes a general appeal to all readers irrespective of sex.
MARY J. GREEN, M. D. In considering the personnel of the medical profession at Los Angeles it is interesting to note that some of the most eminent members in this modern, progressive city are women. When Dr. Mary J. Green eame to Los Angeles, twenty-nine years ago, public recognition of equality of sex was by no means what it is now, and, like other pioneers, Dr. Green, already a physician of ex- perience, had to overcome obstacles that in the light of modern progress seem to have been barriers erected by ignorance and injustiec. That she did finally establish herself, build up an extensive medical and surgical practice through scientific knowledge and skill reflects eredit both upon herself and the community. Dr. Green now occupies a recognized and independent position in her profession, and enjoys the respect and confidence of both her brother practitioners and the public at large.
Dr. Mary J. Green was born near Chillicothe, Missouri, and is a daughter of Preston Hemingway and Lydia (Pace) Minor. Her grandparents crossed the plains in pioneer days and established the family in Northern Missouri. He early educational training was secured in the public schools and continued in Professor Long's Semi- nary. The ordinary occupations of young womanhood did not entirely satisfy one who from early life had cherished an ambition for a medical career. It may easily be believed that she received but limited ap- proval when her determination to prepare herself for this great pro- fession was made known, the idea of a woman's independence still being looked upon in some sections as revolutionary, but the Dr. Green of today gives the impression that she has never been one easily turned from a path she believes to be right, whether concerning herself or others. Her medical education followed, and in 1890 she graduated from the Kansas City (Mo.) Medical College with her well earned degree. For one year afterward she served officially in the Home- opathic Hospital at Kansas City, and during the following year en- gaged in medical practice at Salt Lake City, Utah.
In 1893 Dr. Green came to Los Angeles, and this city has been her home ever since. A close student and indefatigable worker, she soon became well known professionally and received rapid recognition for her proficiency and skill in treating diseases of the nervous system and in surgery for women and children, along these special lines being an authority. She confines herself entirely to an office practice. She holds a certificate from the Government for valuable professional services for the Red Cross during the World war.
Dr. Green was married in her native state to William A. Green, and two children were born to them, a son and a daughter. The former is cleceased, but the latter survives and is the wife of Judge C. D. Breese, of Los Angeles, and Judge and Mrs. Breese have one child.
Dr. Green is a member of a number of scientific organizations, included in these the Southern California Homeopathic Medical Society and the American Institute of Homeopathy. She belongs to the Del- plinian Club of Los Angeles and is a charter member of the Friday Morning Club.
J. a. Rus
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JOHN AUSTIN RUSS was one of the venerable and honored pioneer citizens of Los Angeles at the time of his death, which occurred on the 12th of February, 1923. Mr. Russ was for sixty-five years a prominent and influential figure in connection with the lumber industry on the Pacific Coast, and he was eighty-six years of age when death brought to a close a life of signal honor and usefulness.
Mr. Russ was born at Exeter, Maine, November 28, 1836, a son of James Russ and Zeruiah Weymouth, and was a representative of a family that was founded in the Colonial era of American history. The early educational advantages of Mr. Russ included those of Exeter College, in his native town, and in this connection it may be noted that he continued throughout his life an appreciative student and reader. He was versed in the best of English literature, and had special admiration for the poets.
Mr. Russ came West when a young man, leaving New York on July 4, 1858, on the side-wheel steamer Star of the West, on a trip around the Horn that was beset with difficulties, and arrived in San Francisco thirty days later. He was one of the builders of Tacoma, Washington, when that place was chosen by the Northern Pacific as a terminus, purchasing land with his associates, for a small sum, and erecting a saw mill and a general store, which became the center of the rudely constructed town that imme- diately sprang up. Three other pioneers were associated with him, and on land purchased for less than ten dollars an acre they placed in operation a saw mill with an output capacity of 100,000 feet of lumber a day. The first cargo of lumber from this mill was shipped to San Francisco, on the bark Samoset, December 6, 1869. The concern later developed a sub- stantial lumber export trade in South America, Australia, China, Japan, European countries and the East Indies, with yards also at San Francisco and Redwood City. He came to Los Angeles in 1884, and was for years Pacific Coast manager of the Oregon Lumber Company, with the largest lumber yard located in Los Angeles, near the river station of the Southern Pacific, now a thickly crowded industrial section. This lumber yard, at Date and Chavez streets, was a well known landmark in those early days. This company furnished the lumber for the Hotel Metropole on Catalina Island, erected by Mr. George Shatto; also lumber for La Pintoresca Hotel at Pasadena, and many other early buildings of importance in Southern California.
During the last ten years of his life Mr. Russ lived virtually retired from active business. He was a member of the Maine Society of Los Angeles, of the California Pioneer Society, and was affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights Templars and other fraternal organizations.
In August, 1863, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Russ and Miss Louise R. Spencer, of Bangor, Maine, who survives him and is now one of the venerable pioneer women of California, living at the attractive home place, 3311 North Griffin avenue. Of the three children the eldest is Miss Nellie M. Russ, for twenty-one years librarian of the Pasadena Public Library. The younger daughter is Belle, wife of Lester S. Moore, of Los Angeles. The one son, Albert Austin, resides on his citrus ranch at Fullerton, Orange County. There are two granddaughters, Dorothy L. and Barbara M. Moore.
AUGUST H. SCHWAN. The beautiful city of Los Angeles is best known the country over, perhaps, as the home of capitalists, of stupendous modern industries, and a vast population of more or less famous people who have become conspicuous through unsuspected talents. But the good citizenship of Los Angeles includes others, many of whom for years have walked in the quieter paths that seldom lead to public distinction, their lives being filled with useful effort and meritorious deeds. To this class belonged the late August H. Schwan, inventor and manufacturer, who was an important factor in business circles at Los Angeles for over a quarter of a century.
August H. Schwan was born in Franklin County, Iowa, November 26,
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1859, in which section his father was a pioneer settler. He had common school opportunities in Franklin County, assisted his father until he became of age, and continued farm work until he was twenty-eight years of age. when he removed to Kansas and opened a general store at Mound Ridge in McPherson County, where he continued in business until 1899. He then closed out his interests there and with his family came to Los Angeles, California.
Shortly after locating in this city Mr. Schwan founded the California Souvenir Company and began manufacturing those beautiful little keep- sakes of redwood and leather that every tourist carries away with him from California. He was very industrious, and so upright in character and honest in business that he prospered and when he found larger quarters necessary, moved to No. 235 Aliso Street, where he continued in the manu- facturing business until the close of his life, on March 12, 1922.
In Franklin County, Iowa, Mr. Schwan married Miss Emma Rauscher, of that county, and their two daughters survive them : Leah and Ada.
Mr. Schwan operated his business under the name of the Star Manu- facturing Company, of which he was the head. He possessed mechanical genius and devoted a large amount of his time to his many inventions, and during his later years conducted a machine shop in which these inventions were perfected. One of his latest finished inventions was a gopher trap. which may prove of inestimable benefit to agriculturists, this device, like all his inventions, being of practical value and built along utilitarian lines. Mr. Schwan was well and favorably known at Los Angeles and was highly respected by all who knew him.
JULIA BRACKEN WENDT-WILLIAM WENDT. The recognition of Los Angeles as an art center has been largely brought about by the efforts and talents of such noted artists as Julia Bracken Wendt and William Wendt, sculptor and landscape painter. Their fine artistic work has made them known and distinguished all over this country, and Mr. Wendt has ex- hibited also in the Paris Salon and the Royal Academy in London.
Julia Bracken Wendt was born at Apple River, Jo Daviess County, Illinois, and is a daughter of Andrew and Mary Bracken. Her birth took place June 10, 1871, and five years later the family removed to Galena, Illinois. From childhood she had shown artistic tendencies, her talent was recognized and encouraged by Miss Alice Stahl of Galena, and circum- stances permitted their cultivation, when she went to Chicago to study. In 1887 she became a student in the Art Institute, Chicago, coming directly under the instruction of Lorado Taft, and worked in his studio until 1892. She assisted in much of the decorative work for the Columbian Exposition, and was soon recognized as one of the most talented and promising students of that great master of sculpture. She proved the fine quality of her own artistic designs and the perfection of her work in several independent commissions, and many visitors to the great exposition can easily recall her "Statue of Illinois Welcoming the Nation." This remarkable piece of work was afterward presented to the State of Illinois by the Woman's Exposition Board.
As Mrs. Wendt entered into the larger circles of her art, one honor after another awaited her. In 1898 she secured the first prize in sculpture at Chicago; was appointed a member of the staff of sculptors, St. Louis Exposition in 1904 ; in 1905 took the first prize for sculpture by the Munic- ipal Art League, Chicago; the gold medal at the San Diego Exposition in 1915 ; and the Mrs. W. P. Harrison prize at Los Angeles in 1918. It may not be known to every admirer of art that the colossal group-Art, Science and History, on view in the museum of Exposition Park, Los Angeles, was modeled by Mrs. Wendt. She is a member of the Chicago Society of Artists, the Municipal Art League of Chicago, the California Art Club, American Federation of Arts, National Arts Club of New York, and for three years was a member of the Municipal Art Commission, Los Angeles.
Mrs. Wendt not only is a teacher of the art of sculpture, in Otis Art .
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Institute, Los Angeles, but at the present time is greatly interested in a movement initiated by herself for the enlistment of the children of the California schools in a body entitled "Civic Guards," the primary object of which is to arouse civic pride and a desire to protect all works of art from vandalism. In this work she has the hearty support and endorsement of the Ruskin Art Club and of the Los Angeles District Federation of Woman's Clubs. Already great numbers of school children have been in- terested and wear proudly a special button of membership designed by Mrs. Wendt.
William Wendt, landscape artist, was born in Germany, February 26, 1865, came to America in 1880, and was united in marriage with Julia Bracken on June 26, 1906.
Although Mr. Wendt's artistic work is widely known and approved, and he is a valued member of representative artist organizations from the Pacific to the Atlantic coast, he is mainly self taught, his great natural talents having made the technical teaching of the schools a matter of little moment. While painting in France his pictures were accepted by the Paris Salon, and while in England they were hung in the Royal Academy, London, and since then he has exhibited in all the leading cities of the United States. He was awarded the second Yerkes prize by the Chicago Society of Artists in 1893; the Young Fortnightly prize in 1897 ; bronze medal, Buffalo Exposition, 1901 ; medal, Wednesday Club, St. Louis, 1910; honorable mention, Autumn Exhibition, Art Institute, Chicago, 1911 ; Fine Arts prize, Society of Western Artists, 1912 ; silver medal, Panama-Philip- pine Exposition, 1915 ; grand prize, San Diego Exposition, 1915 ; Clarence S. Black prize, California Art Club, 1917. He is represented in the per- manent collections of the Art Institute, Friends of American Art, Cliff Dwellers and the Union League Club, Chicago; Cincinnati Museum; Art Association, Indianapolis ; the American National Academy and the Mu- seum of History, Science and Art, Los Angeles. He is a member of the Federation of Arts, was for seven years president of the California Art Club, a member of the National Arts Club, New York City; and of the Athletic Club, Los Angeles. Mr. Wendt maintains his studios at Los Angeles and Laguna Beach, where many examples of his own and of his talented wife's work are frequently on exhibition.
MRS. EMMA SECKLE MARSHALL, one of the founders of the Southern California Woman's Press Club, has had a busy and interesting life, expressing her talents with almost equal facility in literature, news- paper work, on the stage and in social affairs.
She is a native daughter, born in Alameda County, and both her father and grandfather were California pioneers. She inherits from them some of her decided literary ability. Her grandfather and father both bore the name George Fleming. He grandfather in 1830 owned and edited the Carlisle Herald at Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Carlisle is the seat of the famous Dickinson College, which graduated so many illustrious men. In the same city is located the Carlisle Indian School. The Flemings came to California around Cape Horn, being four months on the voyage. George Fleming, her grandfather, was at one time superior judge of Alameda County. Her father made many trips between California and the East, several times crossing the plains with ox teams and also going around the Horn and by the different Isthmus routes. He was a graduate of Dickinson College at Carlisle, and married Mary Murphy of Philadelphia. They represented the fourth generation of their families in this country. George Fleming, father of Mrs. Marshall, in association with Henry Williamson, brought the first blooded race horse to the Pacific Coast.
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